In a game of inches, 41 percent of Connecticut baseball fans support the Boston Red Sox, while 40
percent back the New York Yankees, the first time in five years that the Sox even came close to the
Yanks in this baseball battleground state, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

A total of 58 percent of Connecticut residents say they are "very interested" or "somewhat
interested" in Major League Baseball, while 41 percent say they are "not at all interested."

Among those interested, the Yankees are up 58 - 18 percent in Fairfield County, bordering
New York, while the Red Sox are up 56 - 31 percent in Hartford County and 59 - 23 percent in
eastern Connecticut, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

The biggest shift is in New Haven and Middlesex counties, where the Yankees margin
dropped from 18 points in 2007 to 7 points, 44 - 37 percent, today.

Men split 39 - 39 percent while women tip to the Sox 43 - 41 percent.

"The Red Sox have been gaining on the Yankees since 2003 and were 6 points behind last
year in the hearts of Connecticut fans. Is this a casual fling, driven by the current standings, or a
real change of heart?" asked Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.

From June 26 - 29, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,816 Connecticut residents with a
margin of error of +/- 1.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

35. How interested are you in following major league baseball - very interested,
somewhat interested or not interested at all?